For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by cargo cults. Part of it from the very absurdity of the premise, part from the fact that they may give us a first-hand glimpse into the anthropological origins of religion. This Daily Mail scoop about the Prince Philip worshippers in an isolated Vanuatu village is quite archetypal, with all it’s quirks. But keep in mind, between the chuckles – are established religions really that much more normal?

Slightly more disturbing is the story of Sergei Torop aka Vissarion, a fortysome former Russian traffic cop who claims to be a modern day incarnation of Jesus Christ. The amazing thing is – he’s been able to gather 5000 followers in a remote location in the Siberian woods. The Washington Post coverage is excellent.